can a new macbook air thunderbolt to an imac-2010 with mini display port

i bought a thunderblot cable without checking my imac2010 very carefully. now i found my imac only has one minidisplay port. is it possible to connect my macbook air(2011new with thunderbolt) to the minidisplay of imac? i tried the com+f2 on my imac, but it doesn't work.

i am really confused by apple, the thunderbolt fit very well to the mini display port.

1 Answer from the Community

Select type of answer. Choosing a selection will reload the page.

Best Answer:

The ports are visibly identical but thunderbolt isn't on your iMac so it won't work. Just because it fits doesn't mean it's the same thing or it will work.
You need to buy a mini display port cable. And make sure the iMac is a 27 inch only the 27 inch macs can be used as a monitor.
Then plug one end of the mini dp cable into the thunderbolt/mini dp port on the air and the other end into the mini dp on the iMac. Turn on the iMac then the air. Should work just fine.
I found a mini dp cable for 19$